Knife-sharpener for band-cutters.



PATENTED SEPT. 8,1903.

A. J. HEINE. KNIFE SHARPENER FOR BAND GUTTBRS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1902.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

"7277 SSes PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

A. J. HEINE. KNIFE SHARPENER FOR BANiD. GUTTBRS.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 7. 1902 no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W w ur v W UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

AUGUST J. HEINE, OF WAHPETON, NORTH DAKOTA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,192, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed June 7,1902. Serial No. 110,596. No model.)

To (all whom it Til/my concern:

Be it known that 1, AUGUST J. HEINE, of

\Vahpeton, Richland county, North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife- Sharpeners for Band- Uutters, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for sharpening band-cutter knives while the machine is in operation.

A further object is to provide means for sharpening any style or shape of knife while in motion, and adapted particularly for sharpening those whose edges from continued hard usage or by accident have become irregular and crooked.

Further, the invention consists in pivotally supporting the grinding-blocks so that the part to engage the knives will be between the pivots of the blocks and the means for operating the same, to the end that the blocks can be more conveniently adjusted and a better leverage obtained on the cutting edges of the knives.

The invention consists generally in providing a series of grinding-blocks of emery or other suitable material adapted to be moved into engagement with the cutting edges of the knives during the operation of the 1nachine and to adjust themselves automatically to the varying shapes, condition, and irregular arrangement of the knives.

Further, the invention consists in the particular means for adjusting the knives, to the end that the proper angle of the grindingblocks with respect to the knives may be obtained.

Further, the invention consists in the various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a horizontal section of a portion of a band-cutter casing with my invention applied thereto, the grinding position of the blocks being indicated by dottedlines. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the straw-guards in position between the knives. Fig. 3 is avertical section through the band-cutter shaft, showing the position of the sharpening device with respect to the knife. Fig. I is a section on the line y 3/ of Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail of the grindingblock-operating rod and a plate for holding the same in its extended position. Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section of a portion of the bandcutter casing, showing a modified means for supporting the blocks where the band-cutter knives are located above the grain. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the same.

In the drawings, 2 represents a portion of a band-cutter and feeder-casing wherein the band-cutter shaft 3 is mounted in suitable bearings. Upon this shaft I provide a series of knives l of the usual construction, separated by sleeves 5 and held together on the shaft by the usual or any preferred means. The edges of these knives soon become dulled in the operation of the machine and it has been customary to stop .the machine long enough to sharpen the knives or remove them for that purpose. This operation of course requires considerable time and causes delay in the operation of the machine. To avoid this loss of time and labor in sharpening the knives, I provide means within control of the operator for sharpening the knives simultaneously during their operation. In carrying out my invention I provide a cross-bar 6 near the band-cutter shaft and arrange thereon at intervals a series of brackets 7, which extend beneath said shaft between the pairs of knives thereon. Upon each bracket I prefer to provide a sheet-metal strawguard 8, that is arched at one end over the band-cutter shaft and secured at two points to said bracket. The free end of each guard extends down a, sufficient distance to prevent the straw from being carried around by the knives and wound upon the shaft. Near the cross-bar G, suitably mounted in bearings in the machine casing, is a rod i), having at one end a handle 10, that is adapted to engage any one of a series of depressions 11,provided in a triangular locking-plate 12. The rod 9 passes through a series of slots 13, provided in oscillating arms 1%. These slots are of sufficient length to allow the arms to be swung at an angle to said rod to bring them in the proper position for the sharpening blocks to engage the knives. Each arm is provided with a recess 15, adapted to receive a block of emery or other suitable sharpening material, said block being engaged at one end by a lip 16 and at other direction.

the other by an adjustable clip device 17, by

means of which the block may be locked in position. The outer end of each arm 14 is provided with a hole 18 to receive a thimble 19, through which a bolt 20 passes into a slot 21, provided in each arm 7. The bolt 20 being adjustable in said slot permits the sharp ening-block to be adjusted at the proper angle with respect to the adjacent knife-blade. To hold the sharpening devices away from the knives, I provide a series of springs 22 on the rod 9. These springs are arranged between each pair of arms and tend to hold them in a position substantially at right angles to the rod 9 and out of engagement with the knives. Between these springs and the arms, at one side thereof, I provide adjustable collars 23, which prevent movement of the arms in one direction on the rod 9, while the springs yieldingly hold them against the movement in the The arm at the end of the band-cutter shaft I prefer to adjustably support in a slot 24: in a bracket 25, mounted on the machine-casing. Each of the arms 14 being loosely mounted on the rod 9 and provided with an independent spring is movable independently of the other arms when it comes in contact with the edge of the adjoining knife, and hence each arm, and the grindingblock carried thereby, is adapted to yield under the blow of the knife independently of the other arms and grinding-blocks. This manner of supporting the arms and grindingblocks I regard as quite an important feature of my invention, for should the knives become bent or crooked the engagement of one knife-edge with its grinding-block will not have the effect of moving all the other grinding-blocks out of the path of their approaching knife-edges, which would be the case if the blocks were not loosely and yieldingly held. I am thus able to sharpen the edges of band-cutting knives that are irregularly arranged on the shaft or have bent or crooked edges without the necessity of reducing the speed of the machine or readjusting the blocks to suit the varying condition of the knives and their arrangement on their shaft.

In Sheet 1 of the drawings I have shown my invention applied to band-cutting knives which operate below the grain, and in Sheet 2 I have shown a modified construction to adapt the device for use with knives located above the grain. This modification in construction consists in providing a bar 25, secured to or near the casing between the knives and the threshing-cylinder and provided with a series of longitudinal slots 26, wherein the block-supportin g arms are adj ustably pivoted in the manner corresponding to those heretofore described in reference to Sheet 1. The blocks are supported in these arms and are operated to engage the knife-edges in substantially the manner already described; but instead of having the straw-guards overhanging the swinging arms I provide semicircular guards between the knife-shaft and the grain.

These guards, however, are of common construction and form no part of the invention. Beneath the knives, as shown in Fig. 7, are the usual bundle-carrier 28 and feed-pan 29.

In operating my improved sharpening device the operator will grasp the handle 10 and, drawing on the rod 9, will swing the grindingblocks into engagement with the edges of the cutting-knives, the carrying-arms for said blocks having previously been adjusted so that the blocks will stand at the proper angle to the knives with which they are to be engaged. The springs will cause the blocks to bear on the edges of the knives with a yielding pressure, and the operator by allowing the handle 10 to drop into any one of the depressions 11 can obtain the desired tension or pressure on the springs. If the knives are irregularly arranged on the shaft or have become bent or twisted, the blocks will automatically adjust themselves each to the knife with which it engages without reference to the position of the other blocks, and as the engaging surfaces of the blocks are between the pivots of the arms and the means for oscillating the same it follows that the desired angle of the blocks with reference to the knives may be easily obtained and a better leverage had to hold the blocks against the knife-edges.

As soon as the handle is disengaged from its.

depression the springs will return to their normal position and disengage the blocks from the knives.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a band-cutter shaft and a series of knives thereon, of grinding blocks provided between said knives, means for moving said blocks simultaneously into the path of said knives, and means yieldingly connecting each block with said moving means, whereby independent movement of each block when struck by a revolving'knife is permitted to allow the sharpening of bent irregularly arranged knives driven at high speed.

2. The combination, with a shaft and a series of knives thereon, of grinding-blocks provided between said knives, means supporting said blocks and permitting their oscillation, means for swinging said blocks into engage ment with the cutting edges of the knives, and means normally holding each block in engagement with its knife but allowing independent movement thereof when struck by the knife, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a band-cutter shaft and a series of knives thereon, of pivotally-supported arms, a longitudinally-sliding rod whereon the outer ends of said arms are loosely mounted, springs provided on said rod between said arms and permitting independent movement thereof, grinding-blocks carried by said arms between said knives, whereby when said rod is operated said blocks will be moved toward said knives to engage the edges thereof.

4. The combination, with a shaft provided vsars 2 with a series of knives, of grinding-blocks pivotally supported between said knives, means for moving said'blocks into contact with said knives and holding them in engagement therewith with a yielding pressure, the engaging surfaces of said blocks with said knives being between their supports and said moving means.

5. The combination,- with a shaft provided with a series of knives, of grinding-blocks having adjustable pivots, means for swing ing said blocks into engagement with said knives and holding them there with a yielding pressure, the engaging surfaces of said blocks with said knives being between their pivots and said swinging means.

6. A sharpening device for band-cutters, comprising supports projecting between the band-cutter knives, arms pivotally connected to said supports near the axis of said knives and adjustable transversely with respect thereto, grinding-blocks carried by said arms and adapted to engage the edges of said knives and means for oscillating said arms to move said blocks into or out of contact with said knives.

7. The combination, with a bandcutter shaft and the knives arranged thereon, of a cross-bar provided near said shaft, a series of brackets provided on said bar and projecting between said knives, a series of arms pivotally connected with said brackets near their free ends, blocks carried by said arms and adapted to engage the edges of said knives and means for oscillating said arms.

8. The combination, with a band-cutter shaft and the knives thereon, of a series of brackets projectingbetween said knives and provided with transverse slots, a series of arms having adjustable pivotal connections with said slots, means for oscillating said arms, grinding-blocks carried by said arms and adapted to engage the edges of said knives, the points of contact of said blocks with the knives being between the pivots of said arms and said oscillating means.

9. The combination, with a band-cutter shaft and the knives arranged thereon, of a series of brackets projecting between said knives and provided near their free ends with transverse slots, straw shields or guards carried by said brackets, arms arranged beneath said brackets and having adjustable pivotal connections with said slots, sh arpeningblocks carried by said arms and adapted to engage the edges of said knives, a' longitudinally-movable rod whereon the outer ends of said arms are loosely mounted, and springs provided on said rod between said arms.

10. The combination, with a band-cutter shaft and the knives thereon, of suitable sup ports, arms pivotally connected near one end to said supports, grinding-blocks carried by said arms and adapted to engage the edges of said knives respectively, means for swinging said arms to move said blocks into engagement with their knife-edges, and springs provided in connection with said arms and allowing independent movement thereof away from said knives, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of May, 1902.

AUGUST J. HEINE.

In presence of GUSTAV SCHULER, EUGENE SOHULER. 

